Bottle carrier



May 23, 1950 M. a. HALL ETAL BOTTLE CARRIER "3 shuts-sheet 1 Filed llay 6, 1948 rlllllllllL 1/ 1721162? for; J/z'ig y 3, 1950 M. a. HALL ETAL 2,508,943

BOTTLE CARRIER Filed May 6, 1948 3 Sheets-Sneet 2 Patented May 23, 1950 BOTTLE CARRIER.

Maynard G. Hall, Rutherford, and Michael II. Kowal, Prompton Falls, N. J., assiznors to Empire Box Corporation, Garfield, N. J a corporation of Delaware Application May 6, 1948, Serial No. 25,414

3 Claims.

collapsed or fiat form and may be readily erectedat the time when such carriers are to be loaded with bottles. The usual arrangement in bottle carriers of this general character provides for carrying six bottles arranged in parallel rows of three bottles each and with an upwardly extending handle disposed between the rows of bottles and adapted to be grasped by the user in sup-' porting the loaded carrier. Such bottle carriers must, of course, be economical insofar as material requirements and manufacturing costs may be concerned, but in many years of merchandising experience wherein bottle carriers have been made in many different forms, it has been found that other requirements must be met by such carriers in order to render the use thereof practical and economical.

One of the primary requirements that has been encountered in the bottle carrier art is the necessity for the provision of what has been termed a depressible handle arrangement whereby the handle may extend substantially above the tops of the bottles when the carrier is to be transported, and yet may be moved downwardly to a point at or below the level of the tops of the bottles so as to enable loaded carriers to be stacked one directly on top of another. Another governing condition that must be met in the structure of a bottle carrier is the attainment of a relatively small size in plan-form so that the carrier occupiesbut little greater area than the bottles which are carried thereby, this limitation as to size being imposed by the commercial necessity for the loading of the loaded carriers into cases of the conventional size which have been used for many years in the bottling industry.

In bottle carriers of the aforesaid general character it is also essential that the bottle carriers be so arranged and constructed that they may be readily erected, and an aspect of this requirement is related to the maintenance of the erected form after the erecting forces have been applied to the carriers. Another important factor in this regard is the desirability of attaining a simplified loading procedure, and in this connection it is highly desirable that the carriers be of such character that bottles may be loaded therein by the conventional case-loading machinery that is utilized throughout a large portion of the bottling industry. Thus, it is important that the bottle receiving openings or compartments of a bottle carrier be of such a character that bottles may be freely droppedinto such openings or bottle receiving compartments, thereb to enable conventional case-loading equipment to function properly when the erected bottle carriers are initially positioned in. cases and are loaded by such machinery in the usual case-by-case operation thereof.

In view of the foregoing it is the primary object of the present invention to enable all of these desirable characteristics to be attained in a bottle carrier made from cardboard or like sheet mate rial, and objects related to the foregoing are to enable this to be accomplished in such bottle carriers that are of a simple, economical and rugged construction, and which may be manufactured with the minimum of folding and gluing operations.

In order that bottle carriers made from cardboard may be utilized on a proper and economical basis, it has been determined that such bottle carriers shouldbe so constructed that they may be used in several bottle-transporting trips or operations, and it is a further object of the present invention to enable bottle carriers to be made from cardboard or like sheet material in such a way that the structural parts thereof will withstand the forces and abuses incident to the use of such bottle carriers in several bottle transporting operations or trips.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a, preferred embodiment and-the principles thereof and what we now consider tobe the best mode in which we have contemplated applying those principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a bottle carrier embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view bottle carrier shown in Fig. 1, but having the separate handle removed therefrom;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view taken partially in section and showing thebottle carrier illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2; I

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the bottle carrier showing the handle in two different positions and illustrating the handle relationship with respect to bottles that are illustrated in dotted outline;

Fig. 5 is a face view of the cardboard blank utilized in constructing the bottle carrier of Fig. 1; I

Fig. 6 is a plan vlew, similar to Fig. 2, illustrating an alternative construction that may be utilized;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary face view of a portion of the blank utilized in constructing the bottle carrier oi Fig. 6;

Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 are views on a reduced scale which, in connection with Fig. 5, illustrate the successive folding and gluing steps that are performed in constructing the bottle carrier in Fig. 1 from the blank of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 12 is an end elevational view of the separately formed handle.

For purposes of disclosure, the present invention has been illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 and 8 to 11, as embodied in a bottle carrier made from cardboard or like sheet material and embodying side walls 20A and 2813, end walls 2| and 22, with a-bottom wall 23 extended between the lower edges of the side walls 20A and 203 so that this bottom wall 23 may serve to support the several bottles B that may be disposed in two rows of three bottles each on opposite sides of an upwardly extending central handle H. The rectangular space defined in the erected carrier between the side walls 20A and 20B and the end walls 2| and 22 is divided into six bottle-receiving compartments that are defined in part by a sectionally formed central partition 25, Fig. l, and a plurality of transverse partition walls 26A, 26B, 21A and 2113. The sectional central partition is formed by a number of panels, and adjacent the end wall 2| this central partition is defined by a double thickness wall made up of panels 28A and 283. Similarly, near the end wall 22 the central partition is made up of panels 29A and 29B. In the intermediate portion of the carrier, however, the central division wall is afforded by a single panel 30B.

The handle H as herein shown is made from a flat steel wire which in its central portion is formed to an arcuate cross-section to afford a gripping portion 32, and from opposite ends of this gripping portion the material is extended downwardly past or through twisted portion 33 and at the lower end thereof the material is bent reversely in an upward direction for a substantial distance, and at the upper ends of the reversely bent portions, hook elements 34 are formed. Above the hook elements, an outwardly sloping guiding lip 35 is provided so that when the bottle carrier 20 is erected the guiding portions 35 may be inserted through vertically elongated conneeting slots 38 that are formed in the panels 28A and 28B at one end and the panels 29A and 293 at the other end. The length of the reversely bent portions of the handle H and the vertical extent of the slots 38 cooperate to enable the handle H to be raised to an operating or carrying position shown in dotted outline in Fig. 4, or to be depressed to the level of the tops of the bottles as shown in full outline in Fig. 4, thereby to permit stacking of loaded bottle carriers 20 directly on top of one another.

In the manufacture of the bottle carrier of Fig. l, the blank shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings is made from cardboard or like heet material. Thus, the blank shown in Fig. 5 provides the bottom wall 23 in the form of two rectangular panels 23A and 23B of the same size and shape that are joined along a central longitudinal fold line 42. Near the left-hand end of the fold line 42, the material of the bottom wall is cut away along the fold line to afford an inwardly extending notch 43, the functional purpose of which will hereinafter appear. Also, at what may be termed the one-third points along the central longitudinal fold line 42, ventilating and drainage apertures 44 of relatively large size are provided for purposes that are well understood in the art.

Along the other edge of the panel bottom 23A, the side wall 20A is connected along a weakened fold line 45 that is parallel to the central fold line 42. The end walls 2| and 22 are, as will be evident in Figs. 1 to 5', each formed as a pair of foldable related panels, the end wall 2| being provided by connecting panels HA and 2IB, while the end wall 22 is afforded by panels 22A and 22B. Thus, in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the end panel MA is joined, to the left-hand end of the side wall 20A along a weakened fold line 45A that in effect is an extension of the left-hand end of the bottom panel 23. To the left of the end panel 2|A, the panel 28A is connected along the weakened fold line 41A to the other or left edge of the panel 2 IA.

In the lower edges of the panels 28A and 28B, retaining tabs 28X are formed as shown in Fig. 5 by converging slits 28Y which form a tab 281 on each panel 28A adjacent to the fold line 46A and 463. This tab 28T faces or extends horizontally away from the adjacent end panels 2|A and HE, and the two slits or cuts 28X extend along the upper edge of the tab 28T so as to afford a looking or retaining notch, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear.

At the other or right-hand end oi'the side wall 20A, the end panel 22A is connected to the end edge of the side wall along a weakened fold line 48A, and the right hand edge of the end w ll panel 22A is joined to the panel 29A along a weakened fold line 49A. The panel 21A is joined along a fold line 50A to the other edge of the panel 29A, and a glue panel 5|A is connected along a. weakened fold line 52A to the other edge of the panel 21A.v The other edge of the glue panel SIA is connected along a weakened fold line 53A to one edge of the panel 26A, this panel 26A having a glue flap 54 connected thereto at its other edge along a weakened fold line 55A.

The elements of the blank that are associated with the bottom panel 233 are disposed in a substantially similar but reverse relationship, but in most instances the corresponding panels are disposed in alignment on opposite sides of the blank. Thus, the bottom panel 233 is joined along a weakened i'old line 453 to the lower edge of the side wall 26B, and at the left-hand end of the side wall 203, the end panel H3 is connected by a weakened fold line 463. The other edge of the end panel 2 IB is connected along a weakened i'old line "B to one edge of the panel 283.

The other end panel 223 has one 01' its edges joined along a weakened told line 48B to' the right-hand end edge of the side wall 293, and the other edge of the end panel 223 is connected along a weakened i'old line 493 to one edge 0'! the panel 293. The other edge of the panel 29B is connected along a. weakened told line 503 to one edge of the partition panel 213. At the other edge of the panel 21B, a glue panel SIB is connected along a weakened told line 5213, the other edgeof this glue panel being connected along a weakened fold line 533 to one edge of the partition panel 263. At the other edge of the partition panel 26B, a weakened told line 553 is effective to join one edge 01' the dividing panel 303, thi being in contrast to the structure in the other hall. of the blank, where it will be noted that the partition panel 28A has a glue flap 54 joined thereto.

it will be Observed that th'panlsllA, 22A, 28A,

21A, IA and 28A are identical in'wldth, and this width is equal to the side dimension'of the bottle receiving compartments or openings that are to be formed inthe' finished carrier. The same thing is true with respect to corresponding panels in the other section of the blank. with respect,.

however, to the panels 28A, 28B- and "B, the horizontal dimension of such panels is increasedin an amount sufllcient to allow for overlapping of these panels with other elements of the structure in securing the blank together. Thus, the panel "B has an extension E at its right-hand edge, while the panels 28A and 283 have extensions E2 formed at the left-hand edge thereof. These panels, therefore, are of a width that is greater than the other panels, and the extensions E and E2 are formed in a rigid or-uncreased relationship with respect to the panels to which they are related.

In the assembly 'er the carrier, 20, the gluing I in a rigid or uncreased relationship with respect.

to the panels 28A and 283 as hereinbefore explained. The blank is then in condition for the third folding operation in which the blank Is folded along the fold lines A and ma so as to locate the elements of .the blank in the positions shown in Fig. 10. Thus, the end panel 2I B is disposed opposite a portion of the side wall 20A, the panel 28A is disposed opposite the panel 26A, and the extension E2 of the-panel 28A is disposed opposite the glue flap 54 so that the glue strip Gs on the extension of the panel-22A secures this extension to the glue flap 54. On the other side of the blank, the panel 2I.B is disposed opposite a portion of the side wall 203,

the panel 283 is disposed opposite the panel 263, I and the extension E2 of the panel 283 is disposed opposite a border portion of the panel 303 so that'this extension E2 will be secured by its 'glue strip G3 to the panel 303, Thus, the blank is held in the relationship 'shown in Fig. 10, and

' while the blank is in this relationship, glue areas and folding operations are performed in the advantageous sequence that is illustrated in detail in Figs; 5 to 11 of the drawings. Thus, the first operation is the application of adhesive to what may be termed the upper faces of the glue panels SIA, this application of glue being along parallel strips indicated at GI in Fig. 5. One of these-glue strips is disposed on panels 5 IA and SIB adjacent to the fold lines 52A and 523. while the other glue strip is disposed on these panels adjacent to the fold lines 53A and 533. After the glue strips GI have been applied, the blank is folded along the aligned fold lines A and 493, so as to assume the form shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings. It will be observed in this regard that when the portions of the blank have been folded to the relationship shown in Fig. 8, the glue panels BIA and SIB have the glue strips GI thereof engaged with what may be termed the upper faces of the side walls A and 203, respectively, and the glue panels 5IA and SIB are disposed in a centered re-,

lationship with respect to the ends of the side walls 20A and 203. After the glue panels 5IA and SIB have been pressed against the opposed. side walls so' as to adhere thereto, the corresponding portions of the blank are bent in a reverse or right-hand direction as indicated in Fig. 9 of the drawings along the aligned fold lines 53A and 53B. Prior to this last mentioned folding operation, however, a glue strip G2 is pplied along the upper or exposed left-hand edge portion of the panel 303, this portion constituting what has been termed the rigid and uncreased extension E. This disposes the panel 26A on top of the unglued face of the panel BIA, and it disposes the glue flap 54 over a portion of the panel 21A. On the other side of the blank, the panel 263 is disposed over the unglued face of the panel SIB, the panel 30B is disposed over the panel 213, and the extended portion E is disposed over a portion of the panel 29B, as will be evident in Fig 9. The glue strip G2 is thus pressed against the panel 29B so that the extension E is secured to the panel 293. While the blank is in the form illustrated in Fig. 9, glue strips G3 are applied to the upper faces of the panels 28A and 283 along the lefthand border portions of these panels, these border portions constituting the extensions E2 which are strip G2.

G4 are applied to the exposed surfaces of the .panels 283 and 2913 as will be evident in Fig. 10. The glue area on the panel 293 is extended as at G4'I onto the exposed face of the extension E. The blank is then folded along the central longitudinalfold line 42 so that the panels 28A and 28B and the panels 29A and 293 will be disposed in an opposite relation, and these panels and the extensions E2 thereof are secured together by the left-hand glue area G4 in Fig. 10,

while the panel 29A will be secured to the panel 293 and to the opposed face of the extension E. Thus, the folding and forming operations are completed with. respect to the blank so as to afford a collapsed bottle carrier in the form illustrated in Fig. 11 of the drawings.

. In Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings, an alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated wherein the entire central partition wall is made up of at least two thicknesses of material-throughout its entire length. Thus, it will be noted that opposite the division wall 303, a generally parallel panel 30A is afforded which is secured adhesively to the panel 29A and to the extension E of the wall or panel 303. In affording this modified form of structure, the blank of Fig. 5 is modified so .that the glue flap 54 is replaced by a panel 30A, which has the same form and relative location as the extension E that is provided on the panel 303. This panel 30A is joined to the panel 26A along the weakened fold line 55A. Hence, in the assembly of the. carrier, a glue strip is formed on the extension El of the panel MA at the same time and in alignment with the glue Moreover, in the final glue applying operation, glue applied to the reverse surface of the panel 30A in a stripthat is located in the same relationship a the glue area G| -I. Thus, the same folding and gluing sequence may After the bottle carriers of either of the two embodiment have been completed so as to hav the collapsed forinshown in Fig. 11, such bottle carriers may be readily set up merely by applying opposed endwise forces to the opposite ends of the flat blank. Thus. one end of the end wall panel 293 is subjected to a left-hand force as viewed in Fig. 11, while the left end of the side wall 203 may be subjected to a right-hand force,

this application of opposed forces being effective to pivot the panels of the two end walls toward the relationship shown in Fig. 2. This, of course, separates the side walls 20A and 20B, and causes the bottom panels "A and 233 to move into a common plane wherein they are located adjacent to the lower edges "of the various internal division walls of the carrier. In the erecting operation as thus described, the rigid and increased rela ion of the extensions E and El serve to impart rigidity to the central division wall 2-5, thereby to assure proper relative movement of the elements of the carrier as the erecting forces are applied thereto. When the carrier, ha been thus erected to the form shown in Fig. 2,-the ele; ments thereof may be maintained in this relationship while the carrier is being put in position in the carrying case merely by interengaging the slot 43 of the bottom Wall with the locking notch formed above the tabs 28T. Thus the erecting forces are continued until the slot 43 .is aligned with the ends of the tabs RT, and

the adjacent end portion of the bottom wall is bent upwardly past the tabs MT. The endwise erecting forces are then released, so, that the resilient tendency of the carrier to returnto its collapsed form will move the bottom or inner end portion of the slot 43 into the locking notch above the, tabs 2ST. This aflords a retaining or interlocking means that will maintain the carrier in an erected position' while it is being loaded or put in position in a carrying case. With the bottle carrier thus disposed in a carrying case, the handle H may readily be associated therewith merely by moving/the guiding ears 35 upwardly through the slots 38 until the hook portions 34 are disposed above the upper edges 01' the central division wall. It will be observed that when the carrier is thus disposed in a case, the bottle receiving spaces are defined by the narrow top edges of the various walls and panels that are rigid insofar as downwardly applied forces are concerned, and hence the bottle B may be readily and easily lowered into such spaces by the usual case loading machines.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention affords a collapsible bottle carrier made from cardboard or like sheet material in such a way that this bottle carrier will 1 wish to be limited to the precise details set forth,

but desire to avail ourselves of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims:

We claim:

1. A one-piece open-topped compartmented bottle carrier formed from cardboard or like material and comprising, when erected, bottom and side walls, end walls each comprised of two panels, and center and cross partitions, the end and side walls and the partitions defining six enclosed compartments disposed in two rows of three each, that portion of the center partition between two end compartments at one end of the carrier being formed by integral extensions from the inner ends of the panels of one end wall and comprising parallel face contacting walls, extensions of such parallel walls forming all of the cross partitions and portions respectively secured centrally to the inner sides of the opposite 76 sidewalls, a further extension of at least one of the cross partitions forming the central portion of a cross partition, that portion of the center partition between the other end compartments at the other end of'the carrier comprising an integral extension from the inner end of once! tions being connected to said further extension the panels of the other end wall and which is joined to said further extension of a cross partltion, and means for connecting the other panel of said end wall to the first named panel of said other end wall.

2. A bottle carrier as defined in and by claim 1 wherein the center partition is provided with elongated vertically disposed slots, a substantially versely bent ends, which reversely'bent ends of said handle are positioned in said slots and allows for vertical movement of the handle relative to the carrier.

3. A one-piece open-topped compartmented bottle carrier formed from cardboard or like material'and comprising, when erected, bottom and side walls, end walls each comprised of two panels, and center and cross partitions, the end and side walls and the partitions defining six enclosed compartments disposed in two rows of 'U-shaped handle having similarly formed reof each row, said central portion of the center partition being directly connected with the one of the cross partitions and paralleling one of the portions secured centrally to an inner side wall, an extension of another of said cross partitions being connected to said center partition at the direct onnection of the one said cross partition therewith, that portion of the center partition between the other end compartments at the other end of the carrier comprising an integral extension from the inner end of one of the panels of the other end wall and which is joined to said central portion at the direct connection of said one cross partition, and means for connecting the other panel of said end wall -to the first named-panel of said other end wall.

- MAYNARD G. HALL.

MCHAEL H. KOWAL'.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

